Reclosable carton



Jan. 22, 1935. A. J. WEISS RECLOSABLE CARTON Filed Dec. 6-, 1933 INVENTOR} r/l'rz'i'zare/Tlfez'spj @MM ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES RECLOSABLE CARTON Arthur J. Weiss, St. Albans, N. Y., assignor to Robert Gair Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 6, 1933, Serial No. 701,092

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to cartons made of paper board and the like, and, specifically, is directed to a carton which is completely sealed, and which is opened by breaking pre-weakened portions thereof which are, preferably located at the mid-section of the carton to create a restricted opening and cover flap therefor, at said mid-section, whereby materials such as catamenial bandages and similar,.pre-folded or non-folded, textile or tissue articles may be withdrawn therefrom, by grasping them at their middle portions and withdrawing them through the provided opening, without disturbing the underlying, folded and contained articles.

The closure or cover-forming flap, is provided with a tuck flap, both cover and tuck flap being formed out of the portions created by the breaking of the adjacent walls of said carton at the said weakened lines, this being one of the desired advantages.

After breaking the carton wall portions as above outlined, the cover flap is closable over said created opening and held in closed position by the tuck flap, which engages tuck flap gripping means also located in an adjacent wall of the carton, said tuck flap gripping means also being created by the breaking of the said weakened lines in said adjacent wall, said weakened line being so contoured as to automatically form tension tongues to hold said tuck flap in cover holding grip, this being another of the desired advantages.

These and other features of advantage will be apprehended as the herein description proceeds, and it is obvious that modifications may be made in the structure herein disclosed without departing from the spirit hereof or the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a perspective fragmentary view of a carton, showing the mid-closure broken away on its weakened lines, with the closure partly opened;

Fig. 2 is a blank lay-out of the carton, reduced in dimension;

Fig. 3 is a view, showing the carton and closure,

' at the cover tuck end portion, before being broken out at the weakened lines; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carton, somewhat similar to Fig. 3, showing the manner of reclosing the carton.

The present carton is created out of a single, one piece blank, as disclosed in Fig. 2, and comprises bodv forming side panels A, B, C and D, defined from each other by score lines 18, 19 and 20.

Side panel A is provided witha glue underlap 9, 10, 11, which, when glue is applied in the stripe form shown by the stippling 15, 24, 24, is afilxed to the under side of side panel D, adjacent its exposed edge E, as at Fig. 1, after bending the panels A, B, C and D on their score lines to form the body of the carton. The glue flap 9, 10, 11 is defined from panel A by a score line 23.

The body forming panels A, B, C and D are provided on their opposite ends with carton end closing flaps 1 to 8 inclusive, and these flaps are defined from the panels by score lines 21 and 22. When the carton blank is formed and glued as previously described, end flaps 1 and 3 and 5 and '7, are infolded, then flaps 2 and 6 are glued and infolded, and then flaps 4 and 8 are glued and infolded, thus positively sealing the carton ends, in the usual known manner.

As described above, the carton is positively and completely sealed and not easily opened.

To permit of easy opening and reclosing of the carton, the panel A is divided into three subpanels 13, 25 and 25, all being defined from each other by spaced, weakened or perforated lines 14, 14, which commence at the outer edge of the glue laps 9 and 10, and, traversing the panel A, end at the score line 18 between panels A and B. Sub-panel 13 of panel A has its glue lap portion extended beyond the edges of glue lap sections'lo and 24, thus forming an unglued cover tuck flap extension 11 thereon.

When the carton is glued by lap 9, 10, 11, to the underface of panel D, as previously described, as in Fig. 3, the extension 11 of sub-panel 13, and its glue zone 15 immediately underlie and register with a tear-out section 12, defined at the midportion of the panel edge E of panel D, by weakened or perforated lines ar-ba. The weakened lines a-a are curved or flared outwardly from the edge E, as in Fig. 2, until they intersect the termini of weakening line b.

The glue lap portion of sub-panel 13, shown by stippling 15, is provided with two glue resist zones or patches 16-16, Fig. 2, these being indicated by the cross-lining. These two glue resist patches, formed of inked areas, are so designed that when the composite glue lap 910l1 is afiixed to panel D, the entire under surface of tear-out section 12 is covered by glue but the glue" and 14-14 to gain access to the carton contents,

the sub-panel or section 13 and its extension 11. while forming a portion of the front panel A and a portion of glue lap 9, 10, 11, are held in their noted carton forming positions by the said weakened lines only.

When it is desired to open the carton, the corner of the jointure of the panels A and D at.l2, Fig. 3 are squeezed between the fingers, thus breaking out section 12 from its weakened lines a-b-a, and then by pulling outwardly, as in Fig. 1, the extension 11 is withdrawn from under the edge E of panel D, stripping the extension 11 from under the tuck flap gripping tongues 17-17, and simultaneously tearing the sub-panel cover forming closure 13 along its weakened lines 14-14, leaving score line 18 of panel A to form a hinge for the sub-panel closure 13.

When the closure 13 and its tuck flap 11 are thus formed, the torn section 12, being glued thereto, is left on the tuck flap 11 and is carried thereby, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4.

When it is desired to close the carton the tuck flap 11, is laid on top of the tongues 17, 17, and its front edge entered under the edge b formed by the break on weakened line on panel D, as in Fig. 4, and the tuck fiap is thus pushed inwardly until the front edge 0 of section 12, contacts with the edge b as in Fig. 4, and is thus prevented, by the said edge contact from going in further, said edge contact thereby forming a stop to prevent the cover A from going into the carton beyond the initial position it occupied before the closure was broken out. v

The tuck fiap 11 is clasped on its underside by the deflected or spring tongues 17, 1'7, and on top of its upper outer edge by the underside of panel D, as indicated by the dotted lines 11, Fig. 4, and the tuck flap is thereby firmly held against accidental opening.

Further, when the tuck fiap is tucked as indicated, the carton is stiifened against distortional movement across from end flap 4 to end fiap 8.

In use, for bandage contents, the bandages may be piled in tiersjnot shown, so that they rest on panel c, with their opposite ends in contact with end flaps 4 and 8. When the cover 13 is opened, as shown dotted in Fig. 1, the exposed mid-portion of the bandage is grasped between the fingers and lifted, causing both ends of the bandage to be drawn towards each other and the opening, and thus lifted out, without disturbing the remaining bandages.

It will thus be noted that there is provided a carton having a cover, tuck flap and tuck flap engaging and stop means which are all formed completely within and by defining weakened or perforate lines, said latter being continuous and arranged on adjacent walls of the carton.

It will further be noted that the cover tuck fiap is formed, in part, by a portion of the glue lap, said portion having an extension of its area beyond the glue lap to form the reentrant portion of the cover tuck flap, and thus, while in sealed and unbroken position the tuck fiap forms, and is a part of, the glue lap and is glued to a panel to form the carton body.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A carton having panels defined from each other by score lines and forming a body portion, carton closing end flaps carried by and defined from said panels by score lines and adapted to be glued to each other to seal said carton ends, a

glue lap defined from one panel by -a score line and glued to the edge of an associate panel on its underface; a portion of said associate panel at its mid-portion and a portion of said glue lap and its panel at their mid-sections being defined within and by an endless intersecting line of perforations; said perforations defining coacting weakened lines on two adjacent panel surfaces to permit the formation of a closure out of one panel and a retuck fiap and retuck flap seat out of another panel when broken out on said weakened 2. A carton blankcomprising body forming panels; end closing flaps; said panels and fiaps being defined from each other by scores; one of said panels forming a lap panel and having a glue lap thereon; said lap and a portion of the lap panel having spaced lines of weakened resistance to form a tear-out cover which extends completely across said lap panel, and cover tuck fiap therefor, and wall portions; the glue lap portion of said cover tuck flap of said wall portions being adapted to be glued to the underface of an associate panel and glue resist sections on the glue lap portion of said cover tuck flap.

3. A carton blank comprising body forming panels; end closing flaps; said panels and flaps being defined from each other by scores; one of said panels forming a lap panel having a glue lap thereon; said lap and a portion of the lap panel being divided by a pair of spaced lines of weakened resistance to form a severable tear-out cover which extends completely across said lap panel, a severable cover tuck flap, and severable sub-panel laps; the glue lap portions of said cover tuck fiap and sub-panel portions being adapted to be glued to the underface of an associate panel and glue resist sections on the glue lap portion of said cover tuck flap.

4. A carton blank comprising associated body forming panels; end closing flaps; said panels and flaps being associated with and defined from each other by scores; one of said panels forming a lap panel having a glue'lap thereon; said lap and a portion of the lap panel being divided at the midportion of the carton blank by spaced lines of weakened resistance to form a severable tear-out cover, a severable cover tuck flap scored from said cover, severable sub-panel laps and wall portions, said lines of weakened resistance running from said severable sub-panel laps completely across said'lap panel and ending at the score line of an associate panel, the glue lap portions of said cover tuck flap and sub-panel glue laps being glued to the underface of an associate panel and a glue resist section on the glue lap portion of said cover tuck flap.

5. A carton blank comprising a plurality of body forming panels; end closing flaps; said panels and flaps being associated with and defined from each other by scores; one of said panels forming a lap panel having a glue lap thereon, said lap and a portion of the lap panel having at the mid-portion of the blank traversing, spaced lines of weakened resistance to form a hinged, tear-out cover and having an integral, scored cover tuck flap thereon and also forming sub-panel lap and wall portions; the glue lap portion of said cover tuck flap having a tucking extension thereon, the glue lap portions of said cover tuck fiap and sub-panel glue laps being glued to the-underface of an associate panel, said associate panel having a perforated, tear-out section located and glued in registry with said cover tuck flap extension and perforations and a glue resist section on the glue lap portion of said cover tuck flap.

6. A carton comprising a front panel having spaced cuts extending completely across it to provide a closure section, said section forming an opening in the carton; a coacting side panel having a marginal opening communicating with the first opening, said side panel having a portion thereof projecting into its opening and forming a seat, and an extension carried by one end of said section and forming a closure for the marginal glue lap extending along its length, a side panel opening, said extension being engageable on said seat.

'7. In combination, a carton for foldable bandages or the like, comprising a rectangular body, including a front, rear and side walls; said front wall having therein and extending completely across its mid-portion, from one side wall to the other side wall, an opening; said opening extending in part into one of said side walls; the opening in said front wall having parallel opposed, fixed boundary edges joining the side walls; the bandages being adapted to be stacked singly in the carton with their opposite ends under the uncut portions of said front wall, so that a bandage may be manually grasped and removed at said opening, whereby said fixed front wall edges may urge or fold the bandage into double condition during removal thereof and a retuck cover, having a tuck flap hingedly scored from one of said side walls, whereby said tuck flap may be tucked into the opening in said side wall.

8. A carton comprising a front panel having end portions, a closure including a section which is disposed between said portions, said section extending completely across the panel and forming an opening therein; a coacting side panel having a marginal opening communicating with the first opening; an extension continuous with said section and adapted to close the marginal opening, and means for stopping said extension in the closing position whereby to align said section and said portions in thesame plane, said means including a strip of material which is mounted on said extension, said strip being engageable with the boundary edge of the marginal opening.

9. A carton comprising a front panel having end portions, .a closure having a section disposed between said portions and extending completely across the panel, said section forming an opening in the panel; a coacting side panel having a marginal opening communicating with the first opening, said side panel having portions thereof projecting into its opening and forming seats adjacentthe first opening; a second section continuous with the first section and adapted to close the marginal opening, said second section being engageable on the outer face of said seats, and an extension carried by the second mentioned section and passing through the marginal opening, said extension being engageable against the inner face of said side panel.

10. A carton comprising a front panel having end portions, a closure including a section which is disposed between said portions, said section extending completely across the panel and forming an opening therein; a coacting side panel having a marginal opening communicating with the first opening, said side panel havingportions which project into the opening to form seats adjacent the first opening and there being a straight edge bounding said marginal opening between said seats: a second section continuous with the first section and adapted to close the marginal opening, said second section being engageable on said seats, an extension carried by said second section and engageable against the inner face of the side panel, said extension being through the marginal opening, and means mounted onthe second mentioned section and engagehaving one margin cooperating in attached relation with said lap; said panels having therein coacting scores which define a closure; said closure including a main section which is disposed completely across the front panel, and an auxiliary section-which forms a part of said margin; said glue lap including a sub-lap to which said auxiliary section is attached and there being glue resisting portions on said sub-lap, which latter is provided with a free extension; said margin including also projections whichoverlie said glue resisting portions and form seats, and there being a portion of said scores disposed in a straight line between said seats; so that said sections may be manually grasped to sever said scores whereby toform a temporary opening in the panels, so that to close the openings said extension may be passed through the marginal opening to engage said sub-lap on said seats, said auxiliary section being then attached to said sub-lap and being adapted to engage the side panel on said straight line, whereby to stop said sections in closing position.

12. A carton comprising a body having in the wall thereof an endless weakened line which defines a closure; said wall including double or inner and outer portions; said line having perforated parts, and a hinge part whereon the closure is swingable, said perforated parts being breakable so that the closure may be moved to provide a dispensing opening; said closure having extending therefrom a retuck flap, and there being outerportions of said wall projecting into said opening whereby to form seats; so that after the initial opening the carton may again be closed, said closure being then engageable on the outer faces of said seats and said flap being engageable against theinner face of said wall.

13. A carton comprising a body having in the wall thereof an endless weakened line which defines a sealing closure; said wall including double or inner and outer portions, and said line having perforated parts, and a hinge part whereon the closure is swingable, said perforated parts being breakable so that after the initial sealing the closure may be moved to provide a dispensing opening; said closure including an outer portion which is .glued to an inner portion and there being outer portions of said wall projecting into the opening whereby to form seats, said closure having extending therefrom a retuck fiap; so that after the initial opening the carton may again be closed, said closure being then engageable on the outer faces of said seats, and said flap being engageable against the inner face of said wall, said outer glued portion forming a stop. for holding said fiap in position, as described.

14. A carton comprising a panel having spaced cuts extending completely across it to provide a closure section, said section forming an opening in the carton and being hinged to an adjacent coacting panel, a second coacting panel having in both of said lapped portions communicating with said first opening, said second panel having one of its lapped portions extending into said marginal opening to form a latch seat, and a tuckfiap extension carried by one end of said section and forming a closure for saidmarginal opening, said extension being engageable with said latch seat.

I ARTHUR J. WEISS. 

